It was all true! Eating made her feel better. Eating had helped her with her dragon blood cravings. It had become a ‘thing’. Her thing. Her clothing was tight. Most of her jeans didn’t fit anymore. There were one or two dresses and other items that had followed suit. Her boobs had started to bounce when she did anything other than walk. They bounced and juggled so badly that she had started to think of wearing a bra. She sighed. “I have been using food as a crutch.” She nodded, looking at the swans as they glided across the lake in pairs. “The whole thing with Bay made me a bit depressed. That, and lonely. I’ve never felt so alone. Food helps ease that. I’ll go on one of those human diets. I’ll talk to Tanya about it. Although I don’t want to bother her, seeing as she’s due to have her baby in the next couple of weeks.”
“Google healthy eating then. I’m not trying to be nasty or anything. It’s just something you need to be aware of. I happen to think you look amazing.” His gaze slid to her breasts.
“You are not checking me out.”
He cleared his throat and sat up straighter. “Of course not!” he said too quickly. “What I’m trying to say is that you are gorgeous and have become curvy and even sexier, but all this eating isn’t healthy.”
Drago had to work hard to keep his physique in top form. He was meticulous about what he ate, so it was only natural that he would notice and say something to her. Then he grinned. "I'm sure it's all the food that's making your blood taste so good. Once you're on that human diet thing, I won't crave it as much."
“I’m sure you’re right.” She took another bite of her sandwich.
“Hey, I thought you were going to go easy on those.”
“I will.” She nodded. “After this.” The grease-paper crinkled as she held up what was left of the meal. “I’ll talk to Tanya or Google a healthy eating plan. I’ll figure something out and start the diet tomorrow.”
Chapter 16
His eyes stung from the constant searching. His wings felt fatigued from flying. Bay and his team had been at it for hours. He signaled to the others in his formation with a gruff bark. It was time to descend. To take a much-needed break. Bay headed to the outcrop of trees. They could shelter there. He turned to the right as they slowly descended, watching the sun as it glinted off the ocean. To the left, rolling hills became majestic mountains.
They touched down and shifted. Cracking noises filled the air. They were all breathing hard. Beck had a sheen of sweat on his brow. Bay took a minute to compose himself, watching as the others moved to shady spots. They sat or even lay down. “I can see why you raised this issue. You were right,” Bay addressed Beck. “Twelve-hour shifts are too long. We will have to find another way to get the coverage we need.”
Beck nodded. “By the end of the day, the males are exhausted. What if we were to happen upon those hunters at that point? We would not be in a position to take them on, let alone flee.”
Bay nodded. They were actively searching for the hunters. They’d taken down two choppers in the last three months. One had unfortunately escaped, killing one of the Fire males and injuring three more. Sightings since then had become rare. The dragons were not complacent enough to believe that this was over though. It wasn’t. The hunters were regrouping. They had to do the same.
“Yes, but how do we keep regular eyes on all sections of our territory? We don’t have enough males.” Bay shook his head, feeling frustrated.
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Beck said. “They use technology, why don’t we do the same?”
“I’m listening.” Bay folded his arms.
“We can use satellite-based tracking tech, as well as radar. All of the tribes would need to be on board, but we could technically monitor our borders using technology rather than running constant teams. The satellite technology is still in its testing phase, so I suggest we start with radar since it’s tried and tested.” He pulled in a deep breath. “I can draw up a report of the pros and cons. I’m not saying that we wouldn’t have to run teams at all, but we would need significantly less manpower than our current situation calls for.”
“Sounds good. Yes, I would like a report. I’ll do some research of my own as well. I’ll need a strong case to present to Torrent and then to Blaze in turn. I think you’re onto something though.”
“I just wanted to say that I think it’s great that you made the call to come out today. Most males in leadership positions wouldn’t lower themselves to come on a scouting run.”
Bay shrugged. “I am not most males. I must say though that I ask myself often what Flood would do, or how Flood would handle a situation. I am glad that he has at least been allowed to come back.”
“As a team leader.” Beck shook his head. “It is killing him. I wonder how long Torrent is going to make him suffer?”
“Probably until I fuck up.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, you are doing a good job.” Beck stretched his back. “Let’s sit for a while. We will need to leave soon and I’m tired.”
“We all are.” Bay took a seat on a log. Beck chose a grassy spot at the base, using the log as a backrest. “You are working too hard. You need to get out.” His friend smiled. There was this glint to his eyes that Bay knew well.
“What is it? What are you concocting? Whatever it is, I’m not interested. I have too much going on to—”
“You were unwillingly celibate for years. You now have a cock that actually works and all you have done with it for three months is whack off ‒ and not even that often. We dragons have a fantastic sense of smell, so don’t even try to deny it.”
Bay thrust a hand through his hair, which he noted needed a cut. He pushed out a sigh. “You shouldn’t be sniffing around in my business.”
“Can’t help it. What’s going on with you?”
“We spoke about this,” Bay countered, not wanting to go down this road.
“Yes, and you told me you were going to get some. Our females would be all over you, fresh meat in a high-powered position. You might even be able to win yourself one of the last remaining fertile females, but no, you’re not interested.”
“Of course I am,” he lied. Truth was, none of them held any appeal. He knew the rutting would be subpar after being with the vampire. After Ceri. What was the point? “I’m busy. Far too busy to be chasing skirt.”
“A male can never be too busy for pussy.”
Bay didn’t say anything.
“What, you don’t believe me?”
Of course Bay believed Beck because it was true, but he couldn’t say so, now could he?
"All I can say is if I were in your shoes, I would've headed into town for a week of non-stop rutting. Delta,” Beck called to one of the males further away. He was lounging under a huge oak.
“Yes.” The male began to rise to his feet.
“Stay where you are.” Beck held up a hand. “I see you’re on the list for the Stag Run next week, are you going?”
The male’s eyes lit up. “Yes, of course. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“What about you, Morgan?”
The male groaned. “I am absolutely going. You would have to throw me in a silver cage and knock me out cold to keep me from heading out.” Then he looked panicked. “You’re not canceling, are you? Please tell me you aren’t canceling?”
“Well,” Beck shrugged, looking pained, “our leader has said that he is too busy to attend. The threat of those hunters still looms. Our lair is at risk. I am indeed thinking of canceling. If Bay refuses to go then,” he shrugged again, “I might just have to. That goes for all Stag Runs going forward.”
The males looked crestfallen. Several looked like they might cry, this despite being hardened warriors. A couple of them began talking and grumbling amongst themselves.
“No,” Bay stood up, “I will attend, as will all of you. It is important for all of us to unwind.” The males went nuts. Whooping and leaping. The joy on their faces was almost contagious. Almost. He turned to Beck and whispere
d under his breath, “Bastard.”
Beck laughed. “It’s going to be fun! You are going to get yourself laid once and for all. It’s time you got over that vampire female,” he whispered the last under his breath. “She helped you. You were highly compatible, I’m assuming, but pining over something that can never be won’t get you anywhere.”
The male was right. He nodded once. “I said I would attend and I will.”
“Good.” Beck tapped him good-naturedly on the side of the arm.
It was time he moved on. Beck was right. He might think of Ceri often, but he knew for sure that the female didn’t feel the same. She had left without so much as a backward glance. It was over. Not that there had been anything in the first place. He needed to remember that!
Chapter 17
A week later…
Ceri stopped walking, she put both hands to the small of her back and pushed. It had been a long day, many hours of it spent on her feet. A difficult day.
One abortion. One womb removal surgery. Humans called it a hysterectomy. Drugs didn’t work on vampires. Not like they did on humans. The procedures were agonizing. Ceri had experienced one of them herself. She knew exactly how it felt to have your skin sliced open with a silver blade. To have a piece of your body stripped away. A piece of your soul along with it. She hoped that Angelique didn’t live to regret her decision. Both females were young. Thankfully, they were both doing well.
The sun was already setting by the time she made it to her apartment. Her feet ached as well. The only thing she could think of was a nice bubble bath, followed by dinner and bed. Ceri yawned, putting her purse on the coffee table. She kicked off her shoes and went through to the bathroom where she started the bath, pouring a good helping of lavender-scented bubble bath into the tub. She watched the water swirl and bubbles begin to form.
Then she went to the kitchen and turned on the oven. Ceri placed her dinner in the center of the oven rack. It would take at least an hour to cook. She poured herself a large glass of chilled orange juice before heading back to the bathroom. She set the juice on the floor next to the bath, where she could reach it easily. She grabbed the paperback thriller she was trying to get through, placing it next to the glass, along with a towel. Then she undressed, making quick work of her summer dress. It was floral and tight-fitting on account that her diet wasn’t working. Maybe it was because she wasn’t strictly following the eating plan Tanya had given her. She was just too hungry. Craved too many things. Things like steak and pie and cake and ham sandwiches. Oh, those ham sandwiches.
Tomorrow was another day. She was having chicken pot pie for dinner with all the trimmings and then she would think of dieting again in the morning. She couldn’t let her lovely dinner go to waste. Anyway, Ceri liked the fuller-figured her. Other females had begun to notice. They’d asked her what she was doing. How had she managed to get her hips fuller, curvier and her breasts so much plumper. She’d told them to eat more, much more. Several females were on the ‘reverse diet’ ‒ so to speak.
Ceri lowered herself into the water, stretching out. She sighed with contentment as she felt her muscles relax. That was so much better. So much more—
She sat up so quickly that some of the water sloshed over the side of the tub. Ceri was breathing heavily. She had a hand on the lower part of her belly. A reaction. What the hell? What was that?
She’d had a bit of a rumbly tummy the last few days but that was something else. It felt like something moved. Like something…kicked. No! She was imagining things that simply were not there.
Ceri sucked in a few deep breaths and lay back down. She forced herself to breathe normally. To clear her head. To relax. She had a bit of indigestion. That’s all it was. It had to be. She even smiled at herself for being such an overreacting idiot.
Then it happened again.
Harder this time. A soft thumping feeling. A tapping. There…there it was again, slightly to the right this time. She could hardly breathe. Her eyes felt wide in her head. Her hand moved to her belly, closing over the spot. There! Another soft thump. She couldn’t feel it inside. It wasn’t hard enough to feel with her hand even though she pressed down. There were a few more taps and thumps and then nothing.
She could hear her ragged breathing in the small space of the bathroom. Ceri didn’t know what to think. It felt like she had something inside her. What could she possibly have inside her? One answer kept coming back, only it wasn’t possible. She couldn’t be pregnant. She’d undergone surgery to prevent it from happening. An irreversible surgery. It wasn’t possible.
Ceri got out of the bath and toweled herself off. She stood in front of the mirror, like she often did. Only this time she looked. She really looked. Her breasts were much bigger than they had been. Her nipples seemed plumper and darker. Was it just her imagination that they were darker? She didn’t think so.
She looked herself over, standing to the side. Then she ran into the living room and called Drago.
Thankfully he picked up after two rings. A female giggled in the background. “What’s up?” he asked, sounding concerned.
There was a murmuring. “Not now,” he spoke away from the phone. “Are you okay?” he asked, speaking into the receiver. “You haven’t called me this late, out of the blue, for a very long time.”
“It’s not late.”
“It is for you, grandma.”
She wanted to smile at his joke, but she couldn’t. “I need to see you,” she blurted. “Right now, and no, it can’t wait. I can hear I’m interrupting and—”
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” Drago said. Ceri could hear whoever he was with protesting as he put down the phone.
Ceri toweled off her hair and quickly got dressed, choosing a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt. Then she began pacing. Drago was there four minutes later.
He knocked and came in. “Are you okay?”
“I am…I think.”
“What do you mean you think?” He frowned. “Speak to me.”
“I’m sorry I ruined your plans for the night.”
Drago made a face. “I wasn’t into her. I haven’t been into any of them of late,” he mumbled. “Enough about me. This is about you. Spill.”
“You’re going to think I’m crazy.” She paced away from him. “I think I’m crazy for even thinking this, but I don’t know what else to think.”
“Tell me what’s going on and we can discuss it. I can see you’re freaked out.”
She nodded. “I am. Big time. I felt something…something inside me.”
“What?” Drago frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Movement inside my stomach.”
Drago made a face. “Okay, you’re losing me here.”
“Kicking. I felt definite kicking inside my belly. This belly.” She lifted her shirt to just below her breasts. Then she stood to the side.
“I told you to knock it off with all the bad food.” He shook his head. “The burgers and fries. I saw you with a whole box of donuts on Tuesday. Now look, you’ve got indigestion and you’ve put on more weight.”
“My breasts are huge.”
“A definite bonus for sure.” Drago nodded. “I think you look amazing. Very sexy, but I can’t agree because it isn’t healthy. You aren’t drinking enough either. Don’t make me start on you about that.”
“Actually. I think it might be related. The not feeling much like drinking, my weight gain, my boobs, the kicking.” She put a hand to her stomach. “I went through a patch where I was really nauseous. I put it down to wanting Bay’s blood. You remember how much weight I lost. How sick I felt.”
He nodded. “You said you were addicted to drinking from the male, but that’s not true.”
“My blood has changed. I think it might have. It might be why you can’t get enough of my blood.”
He licked his lips, his eyes moving to her pulse. “You see?” she said. “Just talking about drinking from me is making you thirsty.”
“
Come on, it can’t be.”
“No,” she shook her head, “I agree. It can’t possibly be. There is only one way to find out for sure though. I need to rule it out so that I can move on.”
The seatbelt bit into her shoulder as the vehicle hit a pothole. “Slow down.”
“Sorry.” Drago took his foot off the gas a little. “I guess I’m freaking out a bit too. I mean, what if you are…you know?”
“Pregnant.” She felt her heart beat faster. Felt panic rise.
“Yes.” Drago nodded. “That wouldn’t be good, would it?”
“No, I don’t think so, although, I don’t know. Vampires can have shifter young, even those of us with narrow hips. But the shifters I’m referring to are bears, wolves and panthers, not dragons. We don’t have much information about the dragons. All I know is that it’s too soon to be feeling kicking.”
“Unless you became pregnant on the Beachhaven trip, then you would be much further along. Your pregnancy would be more in tune with a vampire pregnancy, which is bad.”
“Very bad.” She swallowed hard. “Either way, it’s too late to terminate.”
“You’re on the cusp. You could still do it. You should still.” Drago’s hands tightened on the wheel.
“We don’t even know that I’m…pregnant yet.”
The vehicle hit the smooth surface of tar. “We will in five minutes.”
“Pity I ran out of pregnancy tests. I don’t keep very many on account of not many of our females becoming pregnant.”
“You have been a bit forgetful lately. Is that a symptom as well?” Drago glanced her way before looking back at the road.
“Yes, I suppose it is. Are you sure there’s a twenty-four-hour drugstore in Sweetwater?”
Drago nodded. “Yes. They have a big neon sign.”
“Classy.”
“Very.” He turned and smiled at her. “This is going to be okay.”
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